Indian police formally charge bus attackers with rape and murder

Updated
January 04, 2013 09:43:00

Police in India's capital New Delhi have formally charged the men accused of a brutal attack on a 23-year-old woman with rape and murder. The 23-year-old died on the weekend from the injuries she received during the vicious assault that took place on a bus. The court proceedings against the five will be expedited and prosecutors will seek the death penalty.

TIM PALMER: Police in India's capital New Delhi have formally charged the men accused of a brutal attack on a 23-year-old woman with rape and murder.

The 23-year-old died on the weekend from the injuries she received during the vicious assault that took place on a bus. The court proceedings against the five will be expedited and prosecutors will seek the death penalty.

South Asia correspondent Michael Edwards reports.

MICHAEL EDWARDS: Under Indian law, the name of the 23-year-old victim cannot be used publicly.But her father has given an interview to the BBC's Hindi Service. He paints the picture of a strong-willed young woman who was dedicated to her studies.

RAPE VICTIM'S FATHER (translated): I remember asking her once who are all your friends and she replied, "dad, it is only my books I am friends with". She always wanted to be a doctor and was sure about it.

MICHAEL EDWARDS: He says his daughter - dubbed India's Braveheart by many - fought hard to overcome her injuries. He says it was heartbreaking to hear her last words to her mother while in a hospital in Singapore.

RAPE VICTIM FATHER (translated): She kept talking to her mother while in hospital, in bits of course and one day she held her mother and whispered, "mummy, I am sorry, I am sorry".

MICHAEL EDWARDS: The father wants those responsible to receive the death penalty. And that's what prosecutors also want.

Five of the six suspects have now been formally charged with murder, rape and kidnapping. Police allege the assault took place for almost an hour after the accused had tricked the woman and her male friend onto a bus. The evidence is listed in a confidential 1000-page document.

The five adults are aged between 35 and 19, they could receive the death penalty. The sixth suspect is a teenager who'll tried in a juvenile court.

Court lawyer, Dharmendra Mishra, says the woman's identity will not be revealed.

DHARMENDRA MISHRA: The name of the girl had been blurred so that it should be kept secret.

MICHAEL EDWARDS: India's government is considering tough new anti-rape laws. There are suggestions that these laws be named after the victim. The possible laws include 30 year jail terms and in some circumstances, chemical castration.

The proposals have broad support but some women's rights activists say there needs to be a more fundamental change to the way rape is viewed by the legal system.

Ratna Kapur is a law professor at Jindal Global University.

RATNA KAPUR: The issue keeps on being taken up within the framework of shame and dishonour and modesty and morality rather than as an issue of women's rights and I think that's the major shift that needs to take place is to de-link the issue of rape from these conservative sexual - notions of sexuality based on modesty and honour and to link the issue of rape to bodily integrity and sexual autonomy.

MICHAEL EDWARDS: The men will be tried at a special fast track court. The prosecution hopes to have the trial finished within six weeks; this is despite many local lawyers refusing to represent the accused.